Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet during the turn of the 20th century. Born to ex-slave parents, Dunbar began writing at a very early age and had even published his first poems by the age of 16 in a local newspaper. Much of his work was written in the "African-American Vernacular" associated with the antebellum South, although he also employed conventional English in his novels and poems. Dunbar was among the first African-American writers to garner international acclaim for their work. This volume contains Dunbar''s 1898 collection of short stories, "Folks from Dixie", which contains sixteen short stories that explore African American life post-Civil War. A fantastic collection of powerful tales that offer a unique glimpse into the lives of African Americans at the turn of the century. Other notable works by this author include: "Oak and Ivy" (1892), "Majors and Minors" (1896), and "Lyrics of Lowly Life" (1896). Read & Co. Classics is proudly republishing this collection of classic short stories now complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author and original illustrations from E. W. Kemble.